Way Back When People Were Politeby Rev Austin Miles, November 30, 2018

We have been through the Bronze Age, the Age of Faith, the Age of Reason, the Age of Enlightenment, the Age of Louis X1V, and the Age of Voltaire.

Even with the subjects at hand for discussion, back then there was a dignity of the people and all talk was polite, even in disagreements. Of course this was before the Age of Democrats. From there all respect for others went down the….swamp (more elegant than using toilet).

Today, all conversations seem to be powered by crudeness, insults,and disparagement bound up in the covers of vulgarity. Today there seems to be an effort to belittle others.

Fortunately this writer lived in the days of respect where all conversations reflected that time in life. I can remember when we were visiting family members in Kentucky, one of the young men in the family brought his new girlfriend to visit and get acquainted with us.

All went well until a bee buzzed that girlfriend’s face, she jumped up and swatting at the bee, yelled…..“DAAAAAAMN! We all gasped, shook our heads and thought loudly that this was NOT the girl for him. That was considered a curse word back then. And a girl using such language was unthinkable.

Going to school, when the teacher entered the room, all the young men automatically took of their hats and caps. We never called a teacher by a first name without putting a Miss or Mr. in front of that name.

As time went by the insult radio host came into being. Joe Pine was one of the first who insulted his guests. People were shocked at his first broadcast, but they kept tuning in. More hosts gained a microphone with the same format. When television became a staple, one would not only hear the insults but see the expressions on the faces.

Then the insult comedian came forward (night clubs, Vegas, theaters) and stupid people would pay money to be insulted. It was considered chic.

The crudeness and rudeness spilled over into society. And when someone insulted another, it carried with it a real sting, not the non-sting that brought out the loud, “DAMN” from the girlfriend who was never invited back, but a real painful sting.

But back in my youthful days, insults were actually funny, made their point but were never rude or cruel. Wanting to gather those classy insults I consulted a retired pastor friend who helped greatly in putting these together. Here they are.

When Insults Had Class

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.

A member of Parliament to Disraeli: “Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.”